Coupling for gas appliance



Se t. 3, 1957 R. B. NEBINGER COUPLING FOR GAS APPLIANCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed April 16, 1956 k 5 J22 flerzfor Richard B 77ez2zger $9 f p 7 R. B.NEBINGER 2,804,994

COUPLING FOR GAS APPLIANCE Filed April 16, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 5 25lllli 5'6 a5 1}. 26 J6 a2 40 i ii 74 8 if i 3A '2 Z2 f72Y/?2%02* UnitedStates Fatent O Mo., assiignor to Knapp- This invention relates to acoupling for a gas appliance and more particularly to a coupling forconnection to a source of fuel contained in a crown-type can.

There has been, recently, an increased popularity of liquid petroleumgas appliances, such as stoves, torches and lanterns wherein the sourceof fuel is contained in a lightweight disposable container, such as acrown-type can. One of the features of such appliances is that after thefuel of one. container has been exhausted, the container may bediscarded and a fresh container of fuel may be attached to theappliance. One of the earliest U. S. patents to show the general conceptof a fuel burning appliance in combination with a replaceable fuelcartridge is Anderson 1,721,844. r

The instant invention is directed to new and improved means fordetachably coupling the liquid petroleum gas appliance to the disposablefuel container.

One of the requirements of such a coupling is that it be very simple tooperate. Another requirement of such a coupling is that it be effectivefor insuring a non-leak coupling between the appliance and the fuelcontainer. Still another requirement of such a coupling is that it bearranged for cooperation with the existing features of crown-type cans,within which containers fuel has been effectively packaged.

Thus, one object of this invention is to provide a coupling which meetsthe aforenoted requirements and which provides an arrangement of partswhich effects a positive gripping cooperation with existing parts of acrown-type can.

One feature of this invention is that it takes advantage of the existingconstruction features of crown-type cans. In existing crown-type cans,the crown is so arranged relative to the top of the can that an annularportion of said crown extends inwardly and overhangs a portion at thetop of the can, and cooperates with the top of the can to define aninwardly opening annular groove or recess located between said inwardlyextending overhangingportion of the crown and the top of the can. Theinstant invention provides a coupling which cooperates with theseexisting construction features by providing that portions of saidcoupling are caused to enter said inwardly opening annular groovedefined beneath the crown of the can, and to engage and cooperate withthe annular crown to resist separation of the coupling from the crowncan.

Thus, another object of this invention is to provide a coupling for agas appliance for use with a crown-type can, which coupling isparticularly adapted to take advantage of existing construction featuresof crown-type cans to effect a simple means of connection between thecoupling and the crown can.

A further object of this invention is to provide a coupling forconnection with a crown-type can which is characterized by itssimplicity and inexpensiveness of construction and by the effectivenessof its operation.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds and the features of novelty whichcharacterize this in- Louis, Mo;, a corporation of,

ice

. 2 vention will be pointed out with particularity in the the claimsannexed to and forming part of this specification.

A preferredembodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure l is a. fragmentary side elevation View of a crown can having. acoupling which embodies one form of this invention secured thereto;

Figure 2 is a topplan view of Figure 1;

Figure. 3 is a. fragmentary cross-section view taken on line 3-3of-Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view taken on line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a top planview similar to Figure 2 showing another form ofthis invention; and

Figures 6 and. 7 are. fragmentary cross-section views of the modifiedform of invention taken respectively on lines 6-6 and 7-7 of Figure 5.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown a crown-v type can orcontainer 10 adapted for containing liquidpetroleum-gas fuel for usewith a gas appliance. The crown can includes an upright cylindricalsurface 12, a frusto-conical top portion 14, and an annular crown 16formed at the. uppermost portion of the can. The crown can isformed'with a cup-shaped depressed central portion 18, as is best seenin Figure 3. The depressed central portion 18 carries a normally sealedbut pierceable rubber seal 20 centrally thereof. Depending from saidrubber seal 20 centrally thereof is a tubular fuel conduit 22. Theconnection of rubber seal 20 to central top portion 18 of the can isgenerally shown, as the details of such connection form no portion ofthis invention. However, it is to be noted that the rubber seal 20extends upwardly above said central portion 18, and this feature istaken advantage of, as will be hereinafter described.

The annular crown 16 on the can is so arranged that a portion thereofdefines an inwardly-extending, annular, overhanging-portion whichoverlies a portion of the depressed central portion 18 of the top, so asto define an inwardly opening annular recess, or groove, 24 locatedbetween said inwardlyextending, overhanging-portion and the centraldepressed portion 18. of the top of the can. This annular groove, orannular recess, 24 has a maximum -diameterwhich isgreater than theminimum diameter of gthe crown 16, thatis, the minimum-diameter. of theinwardly-extending, annular, overhanging-portion of the crown. Thisfeature of the overhanging-portion :of'the annular crown 16 cooperatingwith the depressed central portion 18 of the top of the can to define anannular groove 24 therebetween isnot novel, although the existence ofthat feature is taken advantage of in this invention in a-manner as willbe hereinafter described.

Now, the appliance to which the container of. fuel 10.-

is to be attached may be any liquid-petroleum-gas burn.- ing appliancesuch as a stove, lantern, or torch. Regard.- less of the nature oftheappliance, fuel conduit means are provided between the appliance andthe fuel container can. Said fuel conduit means includes. a stem, orvalve body member, 26 having a manually operable valve control member 28extending laterally therefrom. Said valve body, or tubular boss, 26carries a fuel bleeding, apertured, hollow needle 30 which is adapted topierce the rubber seal Hand to enter into the bore of the fuel conduit22, so as to establish a fuel passageway fromtube 20 through theapertured hollow needle 30 to the valve body 26, from whence theliquid-petroleum-gas may be taken to the gas burning appliance forcombustion. I

The novel coupling for attachment of stem 26 to the fuel can 10 will nowbe described. Two forms of the coupling are shown in'the encloseddrawings, one form being shown inFigures 1 to 4 and the second formbeing shown inFigures Sto 7. Referring now to the first form' ofcouplingsaid coupling comprises a cup-shaped mem ber 32 having a bottom34, a cylindrical upright side wall 36 extending above the cup bottom 34and an annular outwardly extending flange 38 formed at the upper ,edgeof said side wall 36. The cup-shaped 'rne mber 32fis connectedconcentrically to valve body 26 in any appropriate manner. In thepreferred embodiment disclosed herein, the lower terminal end of valvebody 26 is upset, or spun over the bottom 34 of cup 32 to effect anon-rotatable connection between cup 32 and valve body 26.

The cup bottom 34 and the side wall 36 are of lesser diameter than theminimum diameter of the inwardly extending overhanging-portion of thecontainers crown 16, so as to aflord passage of that portion of the cupmember 32 through said crown 16, as is shown in Figure 3. The annularoutwardly extending flange 38 of the cupshaped member 32 is adapted toengage the uppermost edge of the crown 16, and when so engaged, thebottom 34 of the cup-shaped member is located in a plane between theinwardly-extending, overhanging-portion of the annular crown and thedepressed portion 18 of the container top.

The upright walls 36 of the cup-shaped member 32 have slots 40 thereinwhich are located so that a member extending outwardly of said cupthrough said slots will engage the underside of the inwardly-extending,overhanging-portion of the crown 16 so as to engage said crown and toprevent outward movement of the coupling relative to the container 10.

In the form of invention shown in Figures 1 to 4, there is provided aresilient, distortable member 42 which is generally of inverted U-shape,as can be seen in Figure 3. The extended arms of the U are formed todefine outwardly extending flanges 44 which are positioned to bereciprocated through the slots 40 in the cup-shaped member 32, so thatthe flanges 44 may move under and engage said inwardly-extendingoverhanging-portion of the crown 16 to eiiect connection of the couplingto the container 1E) and to resist separation of the coupling from thecontainer.

The flanges 44 are normally biased outwardly through the slots 40 in thecup-shaped member 32 by reason of the inherent resiliency of member 42.The arrangement of parts is such that the flanges 44 may be drawn backthrough slots 40 to a point where they would clear the inwardlyextending overhanging-portion of the annular crown 16, so as to affordseparation of the coupling from the container. The arms of the U-shapedmember 42 provide means for grasping the U-shaped member 42 and forapplying forces against the inherent resiliency of member 42 to permitretraction of the flanges 44 in the manner as just described, so as topermit separation of the coupling from the container.

The arrangement of the arms of the member 42 relative to the portion26:: of the stem 26 is such that the flanges 44 will not be drawn in toofar and thus eflect a disconnection of the U-shaped member 42 from thecup 32. Rather, when the arms of U-shaped member 42 abut the portion 26aof the valve body 26, the extended tips of flanges 44 are still locatedwithin the vertical confines of the wall 36 of the cup-shaped member 32,and thus prevents removal of spring member 42 from the cup 32.

The U-shaped member 42 is so arranged as to have a recess 46 cut fromthe bight thereof so as to accommodate passage through the U-shapedmember of the valve body 26 and portions attached thereto. The arms ofthe U-shaped member'42 thus straddle the valve body 26 which is carriedon the cup 32 centrally thereof in the manner as shown.

The valve body, or tubular boss, 26 also defines the portion 26a asheretofore noted. Said portion 26a of valve body 26 is so dimensionedand arranged as to engage the upwardly extending portion of theresilient seal 20 of the container, so as to effect a sealing engagementat 48, as can best be seen in Figure 3.

In the modified form of invention shown in Figures to 7, the details ofthe container are the same as that heretofore described, the details ofthe valve body are the same, and the details of the cup-shaped member 32are the same. The only difference is in the form of resilient memberwhich effects the connection of the coupling to the container. f

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 5 to 7, the resilientmember includes a substantially U-shaped portion 70 which is generallydisposed in a horizontal plane. The bight of the U-shaped member 70 isdisposed substantially concentrically with the wall 36 of the annularcup 32, and the arms 72 0f the U-shaped member extend laterally beyondthe annular crown 16 on the container. The bight portion of the U-shapedmember 76, which is disposed concentrically within the cup-shaped member32, carries a pair of outwardly extending flanges 74 which are adaptedtomove through the apertures 40 in the wall of cup member 32 so as to moveinto gripping engagement with the underside of the crown 16 in themanner as described hereinabove. The bight of the U- shaped member 70also has inwardly extending portions 76 which are adapted to engage theportion 26a of the valve body 26 to limit inward movement of the flanges74, so as to prevent removal of the U-shaped member 70 from the cup 32.

The inherent resiliency of the U-shaped member 70 operates to norma lybias the flanges 74 outwardly into the position where grippingengagement may be had with the container. The flanges, or arms, 72 ofthe U-shaped member 70 first extend upwardly above the uppermost portionof cup 32, as can best be seen in Figure 6, and then extend laterallybeyond the cup 32 and alford means for grasping so as to swing theflanges 74 inwardly relative to the cup 32 to permit of separation ofthe coupling from the container.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of thisinvention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variouschanges and modifications may be made therein without departing from theinvention and, therefore, it is intended in the appended claims to coverall such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit andscope of the invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is:

1. In combination, a container having a top, an annular crown on saidcontainer spaced above and overlying said top and defining an inwardlyextending annular overhanging-portion thereon cooperating with said topto define an annular recess between said inwardly extendingoverhanging-portion and said top, the maximum diameter of said annularrecess being greater than the minimum diameter of said inwardlyextending annular overhangingportion, and a normally closed, butpierceable resilient seal located centrally of said annular crown andextending upwardly above the plane of said annular recess; and acoupling for securement to said container comprising a cup-shaped memberhaving a bottom, upright side walls extending above said cup bottom, andan annular outwardly extending flange on said side walls, said cupbottom and side walls being of lesser diameter than the minimum diameterof said inwardly extending overhangingportion of the containers crown toafford passage thereof through said crown, said annular outwardlyextending flange being adapted to engage said annular crown to positionsaid cup bottom in a plane between said inwardly extending annularoverhanging-portion of the crown and the container top, said cup sidewall having slots therein, a resilient, distortable, member carried bysaid cup member and defining a manually engageable control portion, andcrown engaging elements which are positioned to move through the slotsin the cup member into said annular recess to move under and engage saidinwardly extending overhanging-portion of said crown, toresist'separation of the coupling from the container, and said crownengaging elements being retractable into said cup for aflordingseparation of the coupling from said container.

2. In combination, a container having a top, an annular crown on saidcontainer spaced above and overlying said top and defining an inwardlyextending annular overhanging-portion thereon cooperating with said topto define an annular recess between said inwardly extendingoverhanging-portion and said top, the maximum diameter of said annularrecess being greater than the minimum diameter of said inwardlyextending annular overhanging-portion, and a normally closed, butpierceable resilient seal located centrally or said annular crown andextending upwardly above the plane of said annular recess; and acoupling for securement to said container comprising a cup-shaped memberhaving a bottom, upright side walls extending above said cup bottom, andan annular outwardly extending flange on said side walls, said cupbottom and side walls being of lesser diameter than the minimum diameterof said inwardly extending overhanging'portion of the containers crownto afiord passage thereof through said crown, said annular outwardlyextending flange being adapted to engage said annular crown to positionsaid cup bottom in a plane between said inwardly extending annularoverhanging-portion of the crown and the container top, said cup sidewall having slots therein, a resilient, distortable, member carried bysaid cup member and defining a manually engageable control portion, andcrown engaging elements which are positioned to move through the slotsin the cup member into said annular recess to move under and engage saidinwardly extending overhanging-portion of said crown, to resistseparation of the coupling from the container, and said'crown engagingelements being retractable into said cup for aflording separation of thecoupling from said container, said resilient distortable member normallybiasing said crown engaging elements outwardly from said cup throughsaid slots in the cup sidewalls.

3. In combination, a container having a top, an annular crown on saidcontainer spaced above and overlying said top and defining an inwardlyextending annular overhanging-portion thereon cooperating with said topto define an annular recess between said inwardly extendingoverhanging-portion and said top, the maximum diameter of said annularrecess being greater than the minimum diameter of said inwardlyextending annular overhanging-portion, and a normally closed, butpierceable resilient seal located centrally of said annular crown andextending upwardly above the plane of said annular recess; and acoupling for securement to said container comprising a cup-shaped memberhaving a bottom, upright side walls extending above said cup bottom, andan annular outwardly extending flange on said side walls, said cupbottom and side walls being of lesser diameter than the minimum diameterof said inwardly extending overhanging-portion of the containers crownto afford passage thereof through said crown, said annular outwardlyextending flange being adapted to engage said annular crown to positionsaid cup bottom in a piaue between said inwardly extending annularoverhanging-portion of the crown and the container top, said cup sidewall having slots therein, a resilient, distortable, member carried bysaid cup memher and defining crown engaging elements which arepositioned to move through the slots in the cup member into said annularrecess to move under and engage said inwardly extendingoverhanging-portion of said crown to resist separation of the couplingfrom the container, said crown engaging elements being retractable intosaid cup for afiording separation of the coupling from said container,said resilient distortable member normally biasing said crown engagingelements outwardly from said cup through said slots in the cup sidewalls, and said distortable member defining a manually engageablecontrol portion which affords means for overcoming the resiliency ofsaid distortable member to permit retracting said crown engagingelements inwardly of said cup to accommodate separation of the couplingfrom the container.

4. In combinatioma container having a top, an annular crown on saidcontainer spaced above and overlying said top and defining an inwardlyextendingannular overhanging-portion thereon cooperating with said topto define an annular recess between said inwardly extendingoverhanging-portion and said top, the maximum diameter of said annularrecess being greater than the minimum diameter of said inwardlyextending annular overhanging-portion, and a normally closed, butpierceable resilient seal located centrally of said annular crown andextending upwardly above the plane of said annular recess; and acoupling for securement to said container comprising a cup-shaped memberhaving a bottom, upright side walls extending above said cup bottom, andan annular outwardly extending [flange on said side walls, said cupbottom and side walls being of lesser diameter than the minimum diameterof said inwardly extending overhanging-portion of the containers crownto afford passage thereof through said crown, said annular outwardlyextending flange being adapted to engage said annular crown to positionsaid cup bottom in a plane between said inwardly extending annularoverhanging-portion of the crown and the container top, said cup sidewall-having slots therein, a resilient, distortable, member carried bysaid cup member and defining a manually engageable control portion, andcrown engaging elements which are positioned to move through the slotsin the cup member into said annular recess to move under and engage saidinwardly extending overhanging-portion of said crown, to resistseparation of the coupling from the container, and said crown engagingelements being retractable into said cup for afiording separation of thecoupling from said container, a sealed tubular boss carried centrally ofsaid cup for fitting over and engaging, in sealing relation therewith, aportion of said upwardly extending resilient seal, and a tubular conduitcarried by said cup for piercing said resilient seal to establishcommunication between said tubular conduit and the interior of saidcontainer.

5. In combination, a container having a top, an annular crown on saidcontainer spaced above and overlying said-top and defining an inwardlyextending annular overhanging-portion thereon cooperating with said topto define an annular recess between said inwardly extendingoverhanging-portion and said top, the maximum diameter of said annular.recess being greater than the minimum diameter of said inwardlyextending annular overhanging-portion, and a normally closed, butpierceable resilient seal located'centrally of said annular crown andextending upwardly above the plane of said annular recess; and acoupling for securement to said container comprising a cup-shaped memberhaving a bottom, upright side walls extending above said cup bottom, andan annular outwardly extending flange on said side walls, said cupbottom and side walls being of lesser diameter than the minimum diameterof said inwardly extending overhanging portion of the containers crownto afford passage thereof through said crown, said annular outwardlyextending flange being adapted to engage said annular crown to positionsaid cup bottom in a plane between said inwardly extending annularoverhangingportion of the crown and the container top, said cup sidewall having slots therein, and a tubular boss carried centrally of saidcup extending upwardly therefrom, a resilient, distortable, membercarried by said cup member and defining a manually engageable controlportion, and crown engaging elements which are positioned to movethrough the slots in the cup member into said annular recess to'rnoveunder and engage said inwardly extending overhanging-portion of saidcrown, to resist separation of the coupling from the container, saidcrown engaging elements being retractable into said cup for affordingseparation of the coupling from said container, and

said distortable member being generally of inverted U shape and havingan aperture in the bight thereof adapted for straddling the tubular bosscarried centrally of said cup.

6. In combination, a container having a top, an annular crown on saidcontainer spaced above and overlying said top and defining an inwardlyextending annular overhanging-portion thereon cooperating with said topto define an annular recess between said inwardly extendingoverhanging-portion and said top, the maximum diameter of said annularrecess being greater than the minimum diameter of said inwardlyextending annular overhanging-portion, and a normally closed, butpierceable resilient seal located centrally of said annular crown andextending upwardly above the plane of said annular recess; and acoupling for securement to said container comprising a cup-shaped memberhaving a bot tom, upright side walls extending above said cup bottom,and an annular outwardly extending flange on said side walls, said cupbottom and side walls being of lesser diameter than the minimum diameterof said inwardly extending overhanging-portion of the containers crownto afford passage thereof through said crown, said annular outwardlyextending flange being adapted to engage said annular crown to positionsaid cup bottom in a plane between said inwardly extending annularoverhanging-portion of the crown and the container top, said cup sidewall having slots therein, a resilient, distortable, member carried bysaid cup member and defining a manually engageable control portion, andcrown engaging elements which are positioned to move through the slotsin the cup member into said annular recess to move under and engage saidinwardly extending overhanging-portion of said crown, to resistseparation of the coupling from the container, and said crown engagingelements being retractable into said cup for affording separation of thecoupling from said container, a sealed tubular boss carried centrally ofsaid cup for fitting over and engaging, in sealing relation therewith, aportion of said upwardly extending resilient seal, a tubular conduitcarried by said cup for piercing said resilient seal to establishcommunication between said tubular conduit and the interior of saidcontainer, and said distortable member being generally of inverted Ushape and having an aperture in the bight thereof for straddling thetubular boss carried centrally of said cup.

'7. In combination, a container having a top, an annular crown on saidcontainer spaced above and overlying said top and defining an inwardlyextending annular overhanging-portion thereon cooperating with said topto define an annular recess between said inwardly extendingoverhanging-portion and said top, the maximum diameter of said annularrecess being greater than the minimum diameter of said inwardlyextending annular overhanging-portion, and a normally closed, butpierceable resilient seal located centrally of said annular crown andextending upwardly above the plane of said annular recess; and acoupling for securement to said container comprising a cup-shaped memberhaving a bottom, upright side walls extending above said cup bottom, andan annular outwardly extending flange on said side walls, said cupbottom and side walls being of lesser diameter than the minimum diameterof said inwardly extending overhanging-portion of the containers crownto aiiord passage thereof through said crown, said annular outwardlyextending flange being adapted to engage said annular crown to positionsaid cup bottom in a plane between said inwardly extending annularoverhanging-portion of the crown and the container top, said cup sidewall having slots therein, a resilient, distortable, member carried bysaid cup memher and defining a manually engageable control portion, andcrown engaging elements which are positioned to move through the slotsin the cup member into said annular recess to move under and engage saidinwardly extending overhanging-portion of said crown, to resistseparation of the'coupling from the container, and said crown engagingelements being retractable into said cup for alfording separation of thecoupling from said container, said distortable member being generallyU-shaped and being disposed so that the bight of the U is substantiallyconcentric of the annular cup, and said distortable member having earsextending laterally of said annular flange on the cup, said earsdefining said manually engageable control portions.

8. A coupling for connecting to a crown type can having an uppermostannular crown and a depressed central portion defining a recess below aninwardly extending portion of said annular crown, said recess being ofgreater diameter than the minimum diameter of said annular crown, saidcoupling comprising a cup having a cylindrical side portion of slightlyless dimension than the minimum dimension of said crown to permitpassage of said cylindrical portion through said annular crown, said cuphaving a bottom and an outwardly extending flange at opposite ends ofsaid cylindrical side portions, said outwardly extending flange adaptedto engage said annular crown to position said cup bottom in 'a planebetween said inwardly extending portion of the crown and said containertop, said cup wall having slots therein, a resilient distortable membercarried by said cup member and defining crown engaging elementspositioned to move through the slots in the cup wall outwardly intoengagement with the inwardly extending portion of the crown to resistseparation of the coupling from the container, said resilientdistortable member normally biasing said crown engaging elementsoutwardly from said cup through said slots in the cup wall, and saiddistortable member also defining a manually engageable control portionwhich atiords means for overcoming the inherent resiliency of saidmember to permit retracting said crown engaging elements inwardly ofsaid cup to accommodate separation of the coupling from the container.

9. A coupling for connecting to a crown type can having an uppermostannular crown and a depressed central portion defining a recess below aninwardly extending portion of said annular crown, said recess being ofgreater diameter than the minimum diameter of said annular crown, saidcoupling comprising a cup having a cylindrical side portion of slightlyless dimension than the minimum dimension of said crown to permitpassage of said cylindrical portion through said annular crown, said cuphaving a bottom and an outwardly extending flange at opposite ends ofsaid cylindrical side portions, said outwardly extending flange adaptedto engage said annular crown to position said cup bottom in a planebetween said inwardly extending portion of the crown and said containertop, said cup wall having slots therein, a resilient distortabie membercarried by said cup member and defining crown engaging elementspositioned to move through the slots in the cup wall outwardly intoengagement with the inwardly extending portion of the crown to resistseparation of the coupling from the container, said resilientdistortable member normally biasing said crown engaging elementsoutwardly from said cup through said slots in the cup wall, and saiddistortable member also defining a manually engageable control portionwhich affords means for overcoming the inherent resiliency of saidmember to permit retracting said crown engaging elements inwardly ofsaid cup to accommodate separation of the coupling from the container,said distortable member being generally of inverted U shape and havingan aperture in the'bight thereof adapted for straddling a tubular bosscarried centrally of said cup.

10. A coupling for connecting to a crown type can having an uppermostannular crown and a depressed central portion defining a recess below aninwardly extending portion of said annular crown, said recess being ofgreater diameter than the minimum diameter of said annular crown, saidcoupling comprising a cup having a cylindrical side portion of slightlyless dimension than the minimum dimension of said crown to permitpassage of said cylindrical portion through said annular crown, said cuphaving a'bottom and an outwardly extending flange at opposite ends ofsaid cylindrical side portions, said outwardly extending flange adaptedto engage said annular crown to position said cup bottom in a planebetween said inwardly extending portion of the crown and said containertop, said cup wall having slots therein, a resilient distortable membercarried by said cup member and defining crown engaging elementspositioned to move through the slots in the cup wall outwardly intoengagement with the inwardly extending portion of the crown to resistseparation of the coupling from the container, said resilientdistortable member normally biasing said crown engaging elementsoutward- 1y from said cup through said slots in the cup wall, and saiddistortable member also defining a manually engageable control portionwhich affords means for overcoming the inherent resiliency of saidmember to permit retracting said crown engaging elements inwardly ofsaid cup to accommodate separation of the coupling from the container,said distortable member being generally U-shaped and being disposed sothe bight of the U is substantially concentric of the annular cup, andsaid distortable member having ears extending laterally of said annularflange on the cup, said ears defining said manually engageable controlportions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,683,484 Falligant July 13, 1954

